Liquid dispensing apparatus



May 16, 1950 R. M. WILSON LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 28, 1946 INVENTOR: Rana/1M WzZsoiz, BY W W ATTORNEYS.

May 16, 1950 R. M. WILSON 2,508,054

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QIQM IPatented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Pennsylvania Application May 28, 1946, Serial No. 672,797

7 Claims.

This invention has general reference to liquid dispensing apparatus and,more particularly, relates to the so-called metering-type of suchapparatus which includes a power operated pump, as well as strainer andby-pass devices.

Dispensing apparatus of the above indicated type as heretoforeconstructed, while generally satisfactory for the intended purpose, arecumbersome to install, and difiicult of access when repairs must bemade. These disadvantages become very pronounced when such dispensingapparatus is installed for use on farms and in rural territory whereexperienced labor very frequently is unavailable.

Accordingly it is a particular object of this invention to overcome thenoted disadvantages by dividing the apparatus or unit into two readilyconnectable relatively light parts of approximately equal weight and tosimplify the assembly set-up thereof, whereby the unit as a whole can bereadily installed, or repair thereto easily made by one man withoutundue physical exertion and with appreciable reduction in the initialand subsequent maintenance costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispensingapparatus of the meteringtype which comprises an easily assembled orreadily disconnected base-structure for a pump and meter unit, inassociation with means for the relatively independent stationary supportof a driving motor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel form of basefor the metering-pump unit of liquid dispensing apparatus of the speciesabove referred to, which by the simple expedient of releasing twohold-fast devices can be quickly removed for servicing or repair, andjust as expeditiously -replaced.

While the foregoing definitions are indicative in a general way of theaims of this invention, others with ancillary advantages will be evidentto those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of theconstruction, arrangement and assembly of the means hereinafter fullydisclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the upper portion of agasoline-service installation, embodying the improvements of thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the staggered planeII--II in Fig. 1 and at a right-angle thereto.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane III-J11 in Fig. l as viewedin the direction of the angled arrows.

Fig. l is a fragmentary cross-section on the plane IV-IV in Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the complete underground installation, on areduced. scale, and illustrating how the bi-partite set-up is easilyseparable for the purpose of servicing or repair of the, hereinaftertermed, pump-and-meter unit.

In describing the illustrated form of this invention, specific termswill be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood thescope of the invention is not to be considered as being thereby limited,each such term being intended to embrace all reasonable equivalentscapable of performing the same functions for analogous purposes.

Referring first more particularly to Fig. 5, the reference character 5designates a fragmentary portion of a liquid reservoir or gasolinestoragetank, for what is commonly known as an underground-installation,the same having a suitable fitting 1 into which the lower end of atubularstandard or base support 8 is screw-threaded. Mounted on theupper end of the standard 8 is a socket-fitting 9 of specialconstruction which is secured in place by radially-arranged set-screwsi0.

Also referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, it is to be noted that theillustrated liquid dispensing appa ratus comprises what I preferablyterm a pumpand-meter unit including a rotary-pump i l and an associatedmeter l2; a motor unit or base l3, having a removable drive-connectionit to the pump H; a conduit l5 including a contact-box 6 for theelectrical connections to the motor i3; and wiring or a cable ll fromsaid motor to a switch-box it provided with a starter-switch 19; all ofsaid elements being enclosed within a protective housing 23.

The socket-fitting e is of elbow-formation in that the cap-section 21thereof has an upset-bend 22, the lower end whereof interiorlyscrewthreaded for attachment of the pump suctionpipe 23, while the upperand angularly-related end is provided with a laterally-projecting flange24, including horizontal embossments 25 having bores 2t axiallytherethrough for a, purpose later on explained. It is also to beparticularly noted that the bend 22 and flange 24 are tangentialrelative to the axis of the socket-fitting 9 so as to define ahorizontal ledge 2! with a vertical fiat 28,

The socket-fitting s; also has an upper flat bracket-portion or ridge29, and a medially-disposed downwardly-inclined web 3!], said partsjointly affording attachment for right and lefthand motor-supportingbrackets 3 B. Each bracket 3| is conveniently fabricated from suitablebar stock to provide a supporting section 32 bent 3 at 33, andinclinedly twisted at $34 into a plane at right angles to that of thesupporting section 32, the terminal portion 35 of the twisting 34 beingapertured for registration with a corresponding hole in the web 39 andthrough passage of clamp-bolt 36. The'bracket sections 32 are provided,proximate their respective ends, with holes 3'! for passage of securingmeans 38 which engage in registering apertures through the base flange39 of the motor 1 3, and whereby the latter is rigidly supported by thesocket-fitting 9 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The means for seating the pump H consists of a combination hollowby-pass-and 'strainer device, comprehensively designated 30, said devicebeing of generally rectangular contour, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4,with a curved-extension 4! at one end for connection of a flowconduit 42into the meter l2. The device is formed with base pads43,havingscrew-threaded bores therein, for the purpose of securing'saiddevice on the platform member 45 of the housing 26, as by stud-bolts 46.In addition the device 40 is provided at one side with a flange portion47 conformable with the lateral flange *2'4'of the upset-bend 22 on thesocket fitting 9 aforesaid, and whereto it is attached as bystud-boltsiii, \vitl'i'inter-position of a suitable gasket t9. It isalsoto be observed that'the device at has a top flange 58 i to which theconformatory base-flange fitof the pump His secured by suitable means52. Interiorly, the device 50 is provided with an angular-'partition53,Fig. 4, having an aperture 54 above" the level of the bottom'thereof tode fine'by-pass-and-strainer sections 55, 55 respectively, the strainercomponent not being shown, the top flange 50 having'spaced orifices 51,58 m'atching'the intake and delivery ports of'the pump! I, Fig. 3. Theside wall 59, Fig. 4, spaced from its flange-connection G! to thesocket-fitting. 9, is" provided with a hole '65 aligned with theaperture 54, and a second hole 6! aligned with the bore 62 of the upsetbend 22 and inlet orifice 63 from the suction pipe 23, said holes it andGI being closed-in by a plate component 64' and gasket 65, with the aidof securingmeans 65.

The housingQE) comprises a rectangular framework*61, see Figs. 3 and'5,preferably'm'ade of angle-section stock and having the angularcorners'rounded at 58, said framework having the platform. 45 suitablymounted thereon to oneside with its inner edge on a cross-bar 6?, andbraces fi9 azcross the spacedly related corners. An inverted U-shapedchannel-section it medially surmounted on the frame 8'! has its terminalends weldedthereto at'll. The framework 5? affords support'for thehousing 29 which is preferably formed from suitable sheet material tothe contour best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that is to say, withan'arched' crown or top '12 and rectangularly-related walls 13 eachincluding an outset-panel portion and corner roundingsl5, the latterbeing conformative with the corners 68 of the base framework'fi'l. 'Asshown, the housing 29 is securely attached by clamp bolts "16 andspacers "it to the framework?! and the channel-section 10.

From the foregoing the merits of my improved dispensing apparatus willbe readily apparent, but it is desired to emphasize certain pronouncedadvantages over all hitherto known analogous structures. Assuming thereservoir or storage tankt to have been installed below ground, thefirst'step is to screw the lower end of the base support '8 into thefitting l, whereupon the 4 socket-fittin S with the attachedsuction-pipe 23 and motor I3, as a previously assembled unit, is loweredonto the base support 8 and rigidly secured in position by simplytightening-up the setscrews [6. The by-pass-and-strainer device 40,together with the pump H, meterlZ, switch-box l8 and cable I l, as wellas the other associated parts also having been previously assembled andmounted in the housing 20 as a unit, which one man can easily pick upand carry, is then placed in position by resting the side-flange 41'thereof on the horizontal'ledge 21 of the socket-fitting 9.

With this preparation the latter unit is readily alignabla-by lateralmovement, until the holes in the respective flanges 41 and 2 are inregistration, when-the two stud-bolts 48 are inserted and tightened-up.All that remains to be done now is to clamp the cable I! to the motorbinding-post i7, and to apply the V-belt or drive connection M from themotor l3'to-thepump H. Inthe event of trouble arising in any part ofpump-and-meter unit ll, l2 due to clogging, sticking or wear; said unittogether with the housing 25 can'be easily removed by simply retractingthe stud-bolts 58 from engagement in the flange a? of theby-pass-and-strainer device-=59, releasing the V-belt M from the pump itand uncoupling the cable H from the motor binding post TE. These partsin assembly can be thereupon lifted-off as a unit, relaced with acorresponding unit, or carried to a repair depot for servicing wheretools, work-benches and spare parts are available. This procedure isalso an important advance-over the prevailing practice of having to'makeall repairs in the field; often under unfavorable conditions. Anothernoteworthy advantage inherent in my invention is that when theside'flange 41 of the removable unit id-is initially rested on the edgeof the horizontal-ledge2T of the stationary motor base as shown, saidunit will not slide-oil or from its inclinationfromrthevertical sincethebase flange 39 and bend 33 of the bracket 3! jointly and temporarilyserve as an "abutment guide during movement of the unit laterallyandinto vertical position, so that the. holes in the respective flanges24, 4'! are easily brought into proper registration ready-for insertionof the stud-bolts 48.

In conclusion, 'while I have shown and described a preferred embodimentof my invention, it is tobe expressly understood, that I do not confinemyself to the precise details of construction set'forth by way ofillustration. The bi-partite dispensing apparatus structure as a unitmay be mounted on any other desirable base support than the'standard 2,and that changes and variations may be made therein without departingfronrthe spirit of the invention within the scope of the followingclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus the combination of a tubular standardfor attachment at one end to an underground liquid storage-tank; asocket-fitting seatable on the other end of the standard, saidsocket-fitting including a hollow bend with means for attachment theretoof a suction-conduit for entry into the storage-tank, and meansaffording rigid bearing for a motor; a relatively removableby-pass-and-strainer device embodying bearing for the pump and meterassembly of the apparatus; and means for securing theby-pass-and-strainer device to the socket-fittin bearing portion withcapacity for quick release of said device for replacement by another, orfor repair.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a tubular-supportfor attachment at its lower end to an underground liquid storage tankwith projection above ground level; a socket-fitting seatable on theupper end of said tubular support, said fitting including an elbowbendwith means for attachment thereto of a suction pipe for passage throughsaid support into the tank aforesaid, and means affording rigid bearingfor a motor; a relatively removable by-pass-and-strainer deviceembodying a bearing for the pump and meter assembly of the apparatus;means for attaching the socket-fitting to the hollow tubular-supportwith capacity for quick release; and means for rigidly connecting theby-pass-and-strainer device to the socketfitting with provision for easydetachment therefrom wherever desirable or expedient.

3. A bi-partite liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a base includinga seating-portion; means defining a bore through the base, an attachmentflange with an angularly-related ledge projecting outwardly beyond theplane of said flange, and means affording rigid bearing for a motor; aby-pass-and-strainer device having a portion engageable on the baseledge, and said device affording support for a pump and meter assembly;and means for attaching the base to the by-pass-and-strainer device withcapacity for release whenever desirable or expedient.

4. A bi-partite liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising a base includinga seating-portion; means defining a bore through the base, an attachmentflange with an angularly-related ledge projecting outwardly beyond theplane of said flange, and means affording rigid bearing for a motor; aby-pass-and-strainer device having a portion engageable on the baseledge, and said device affording support for a pump and meter assembly;means for attaching the base to the by-pass-and-strainer device withcapacity for release therefrom whenever desirable; and a closure housingsecured to the bypass-and-strainer device with capacity to includetherein the motor base when said device is attached thereto.

5. A bi-partite liquid dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 4,wherein the base is in the form of a socket-fitting including acapsection and associated up-set elbow having a bore therethrough withthe lower end adapted for connection of a suction conduit; an insetvertical flange at the upper end of said elbow with a subjacent ledge;spaced embossments to the rear of said flange with through bores; a

transverse ridge across the socket-fitting with a medially-locateddownwardly-inclined web to the cap-section; and wherein the bearingmeans for the motor comprises spaced brackets, each such bracket beingbent intermediate the ends to define a horizontal supporting section anda relatively inclined section, with the latter section turned into aplane at right angles to that of the former section; and means wherebythe terminal ends of the spaced brackets are securable to the elbowtransverse ridge and inclined web respectively.

6. A bi-partite liquid dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 4,wherein the by-passand-strainer device consists of a hollow generallyrectangular unit with a curved extension at one end adapted forconnection thereto of a flow-conduit; a flange portion at one side ofsaid device for mating connection to the base attachment flange withseating on the angularlyrelated ledge thereof; a flange on top of thedevice, conformatory with the base of the sustained pump, and havingflow and return orifices therethrough; an angular-partition in thedevice to define by-pass-and-strainer sections therein; and the opposedside wall of the device having spaced holes therein with an associatedremovable closure component, for the purposes specified.

7. A bi-partite liquid dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 4,wherein the closure housing comprises a rectangular framework ofsuitable section stock with the angular corners rounded; a platform toone side of the framework for seating reception and attachment of theapparatus pump and meter, with braces across the spacedly relatedcorners of said framework; an inverted U-shaped section mediallysurmounting the framework and having its ends integrated thereto; asuitable sheet material covering having an arched crown and rectangularrelated walls supported over the framework by the U-shaped section andmeans whereby the covering is secured to the framework at its lower endand also to said U-shaped section.

RONALD M. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,848,393 Spielman Mar. 8, 19321,992,500 Morgan Feb. 26, 1935 2,289,003 Foss July 7, 1942 2,330,634Shoemaker Sept. 28, 1943

